04.04.2008

Another sparkling Under 19 Talent Squad prepares for take off

Australia’s most talented Under 19 athletes will descend on the AIS this weekend for the first of two live in camps this year.

Selected on performance and potential this squad will be supported in their development with medical screening, testing, nutritional information, media training and mentoring through the camps and out reach programs to help them take their talent to the next level.

The camps also provide opportunities for personal coaches to follow the development of their athletes and learn concurrently.

National youth high performance manager Sara Mulkearns believes this squad is of the highest standard. “These kids all have the talent to take the next step in the sport and we are supporting them in really diverse ways to help make the big transition from junior to senior athlete. It’s not only important that they learn to train better and smarter but that they have access to all of the supporting information that can really give them the edge. Its fantastic that their coaches can come along and learn from it as well.” she continued.

“There are some athletes who were in the program last year, but are still of age including sprinters Olivia Tauro and Jared Bezuidenhout, hurdler Dan Martin, Hamish Peacock (Javelin) and World Cross Country representative Ryan Gregson. Jump Start to London athletes Ray Williams, Josh Ahwong and Rodney Blair have also been included, and there are a host of new names who we have a lot of confidence in, its an exciting time for the program and for these young athletes” said Mulkearns.

Athletics International, a partner of the National Junior Development Pathway, work with Athletics Australia to coordinate a mentoring program that matches former elite athletes with squad athletes. Through sessions at the camps, activities and regular contact with the athletes, the mentors are a valuable support and have plenty of experience to pass on.

The Athletics Australia Under 19 Talent Squad Athletes

Melissa Hayes – Melissa is a 16 turning 17-year-old young athlete who was part of the Athletics Australia U17 Development Squad in 2007. Melissa travelled to Ostrava in 2007 with the Australian Team to compete at the World Youth Championships where she finished 14^th in a field of 27 in the 5km walk. This was a great learning experience for Melissa as she heads to World Juniors in the 10km walk. Melissa hails from NSW and her coach is Marilyn Pearson.

Trychelle Kingdom – 17-year-old Trychelle is a relative newcomer to the sport of athletics. She commenced training with her coach Denis Goodwin in October of 2006 and immediately made an impact in her event the 800m gaining selection to the Australian Youth Olympic Festival where she finished 2^nd. This season Trychelle has made huge progress running 5 World Junior Qualifying times with a best of  2.05.32 at the Sydney Athletics Grand Prix. Trychelle lives in a small fishing town on the southeast coast of NSW and does a 6-hour round trip weekly to Canberra for a training session with Denis. Trychelle is currently in her final year of secondary school.

James Kaan – Originally from New Zealand, James now resides in NSW and is the current U18 800m National Champion. He has recorded five sub 1.50 800m times this season, with the highlight being his 1.47.62 behind Lachlan Renshaw at the Melbourne Athletics Grand Prix. James was a member of the Athletics Australia 2006 U17 Development Squad and last year finished 6^th in the 800m final at the World Youth Championships in a tight finish which saw just 2 sec split the entire field. James is coached by his father Garry and is in year 12 at school.

Chloe Tighe – Chloe has been racing at national level for a number of years in both cross-country and track. Chloe has already competed twice internationally, in 2006 at the World Schools Cross-Country in Italy and again in 2007 at the World youth Championships in Ostrava. Unfortunately Chloe was sick in Ostrava but bounced back to qualify for this years World Junior Championships in Poland. Chloe is the 2008 Open 3000m Champion and recently finished 2^nd in the U20 National 1500m event. Chloe was a member of the Athletics Australia 2006 Development Squad and is coached by Tony Anderson. She has recently moved from Sydney to Wollongong and is completing Year 12 this year.

Josh Hall – Josh lives in Townsville and has been a rapid improver in his event the HJ. Part of the Athletics Australia 2006 U17 Development Squad, Josh’s improvement saw him win a bronze medal at the World Youth Championships in Ostrava in 2007 where he jumped a massive pb of 2.20m. Josh is off to the World Junior Championships in Poland this year after dominating his age group in high jump throughout the domestic season. Josh has a unique coaching situation where his head coach is Tony Rice (Brisbane) but Bill Lavarack coaches him locally and Kathy Newman does his strength and conditioning.

Kevin Moore – Kevin lives in Sydney and is coached by Larry Spencer and Wayne Luckey. Kevin competed in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in 2007, received the silver medal in the 100m at the 2007 All Schools Championships and took bronze in the 2008 U20 National 200m. Kevin is completing year 12 in 2008.

Blake Lucas – Blake completed Year 12 last year and has moved from his hometown Sydney to Melbourne to study nuclear medicine and further his pole vault career under experienced coach, Mark Stewart. Blake was a member of the Athletics Australia 2006 U17 Development squad and was also a member of the Australian World Youth Team competing in Ostrava last year.

Melissa Breen – Also a member of the 2006 Athletics Australia U17 Development Squad, Melissa has overcome the injuries and illness she experienced 12 months ago to become one of the country’s best junior sprinters. Melissa is coached by Matt Beckenham in the ACT and has qualified for the 100m event at the World junior Championships in Poland later this year.

Mitchell Zilm –Mitch completed year 12 last year and has taken the year off to study in 2008. He is coached by Dave Griffiths and lives in WA. Mitch competed in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in 2007 and has PB’s of 10.72 and 21.91. Mitch received the silver medal in the 100m at the 2007 All Schools Championships. He has also given a small amount of time to developing his long jump (7.11m) and may pursue this event more in the upcoming season.

Ray Williams – Ray was a member of the 2006 Athletics Australia U/17 Development Squad  and is a member of the Jump Start to London Indigenous program and has made huge improvements since being involved. He initially came into the program as a 200/400m athlete but this year has been concentrating on his speed and has dropped down to the 100/200 combination. He has narrowly missed WJ qualification in both events.

Nicholas Frost – Nick competed at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in 2007 and is coached by Denise Boyd on the Sunshine Coast. Nick was injured after the heat of the 2007 National All Schools 400m so he did not compete in the final. Nick won the Queensland State 400m Championships in a PB time of 47.46. He has deferred his uni placement this year but will return to study in 2009.

Joshua Ahwong – Josh is correspondence coached by John Palmer who lives in Longreach. Josh is from Mackay and has his mother heavily involved with his program. John writes the program and Mum delivers. Every few weeks Josh will go to Longreach to work with John. Josh is the current All Schools champion for the 400m and came 2^nd to Ray Williams in the 200m. A very serious young man with a great sense of humour! He is also a member of the Jump Start to London program with his main event being the 400m. He comes from an 800m background.

Kimberly (Kim) Mulhall – At just 16, Kim was one of the ‘babies’ in last years Australian U18 team at the World Youth Championships in Ostrava. Kim was a finalist in the discus at these Championships finishing 4^th with a throw of 48.21. This season, Kim has thrown the discus over 50m six times and has posted an amazing 13 World Junior qualifying performances. Kim has also qualified to compete at the World Junior Championships in the shot put. Kim is currently completing her Year 12 in Victoria and is coached by Gus Puopolo. She was a member of the Athletics Australia 2007 U17 Development Squad.

Matthew Stopel – Matt was a member of the 2006 Athletics Australia U17 Development Squad and also competed at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney. Matt was chosen in this squad for the discus but also trains at the hammer and shot. Matt threw a World Junior qualifier of 55.49 this season, which is now his PB. Brett Green coaches Matt on the Gold Coast. Matt is studying PE at uni this year and is a qualified official and level 1 coach. Matt coaches some young junior throwers in his spare time.

Adam Bevis - Adam was very successful during his Little Athletics career in both the hurdles and discus events. This all round talent has seen him move naturally into the Combined Event group where he won a bronze medal (on the same points as 2^nd place) in last years World Youth Championships in a very exciting competition. Adam is coached by the experienced Annette Rice in Brisbane.

Rhydian Cowley – Rhydian is a year 11 student and is coached by Ken Walters in Melbourne. Rhydian competed at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney 2007 and was a member of the 2007 Athletics Australia U17 Development Squad. Rhydian has just been chosen to compete at the 2008 World Walk Cup in Russia for his first international team.

Matthew Cowie – Matt is a talented thrower but also a singer of note, heading to China in April with a choral group. He is coached by Russell Hodder in Perth and is studying year 12 this year. Matt was a member of the 2007 Athletics Australia U17 Development Squad and has a PB throw of 17.28m in the shot put.

Rodney Blair - Hails from Newcastle in NSW and has been a member of the NSW Emerging Athlete Program and Jump Start to London program. Rodney is multi talented within athletics and can high jump 2.00m as well as being a 7.50m long jumper. Rodney won the NZ Long Jump last year in a jump of 6.66m and has made enormous progress in this event being just shy of the WJ Q. This year he has also taken his 100m time down to 10.83 coming 3^rd in the National U20 Championships earlier in March.  

Hamish Peacock – Hamish is an exceptional young Javelin thrower who this year has thrown the javelin over 70 metres six times. Hamish was a member of the 2006 Athletics Australia U17 Development Squad and the 2007 Athletics Australia U19 squad. The highlight of his career, Hamish won the silver medal at the World Youth Championships in Ostrava last year. Hamish has posted 11 qualifying performances for World Juniors to be Australia's premier junior in this event. Hamish is a proud Tasmanian, lives in Hobart and is coached by his father, Evan.

Olivia Tauro – Olivia has a very successful history in junior sprinting and this year has added the 400m to her repertoire. Olivia first represented Australia at just 15 when she was a member of the Australian World Youth Team in the 200m event and as part of the silver medal winning relay team. She was a member of the 2006 Athletics Australia U17 Development Squad and the 2007 Athletics Australia U19 squad. Olivia has qualified for World Juniors in the 100m, 200m, and 400m event but will just contest the 200 and relay in Poland. Experienced coach Penny Gillies in NSW is guiding Olivia.

Daniel Martin – Dan is a Melbourne boy, studying year 12 at Assumption College. Dan was a member of the 2006 Athletics Australia U17 Development Squad and the 2007 Athletics Australia U19 squad.  He was part of the successful U18 Australian Team in Ostrava last year. Dan was a finalist in the 110m hurdles. This year he has qualified for that same event and is coached by Pam Ryan.

Ryan Gregson – Ryan is in the middle of a very busy 12 months. In July 2007, he was a finalist at the World Youth Championships in the 1500m event and just 4 months later broke the U18 1500m, 3000m and 5000m National Records in the space of a month. In 2008 Ryan will travel to Edinburgh in March for the World Cross-Country Championships and has qualified for both the 1500m and 5000m events at the World junior Championships. Coached by Ian Hatfield he was a member of the 2006 Athletics Australia U17 Development Squad and the 2007 Athletics Australia U19 squad.

Jared Bezuidenhout – Jared was a member of the 2006 Athletics Australia U17 Development Squad and the 2007 Athletics Australia U19 squad. Jared lives in Perth and his family’s background is South African. The experienced Lyn Foreman coaches him. Jared is currently completing year 12. With PB’s of 10.74 and 21.50 we look forward to his upcoming season.